SCHÖNES TRAUMA *ﾟ

“I’ll put the thanks on hold, then.” He watches his face and he can see that no matter what he says, Wong will still wear the worry. Stephen was tempted to bring up that such a thing causes wrinkles - but he kept that to himself. There is no reason to bring that into the conversation. Not after he’s already offered some assistance on the matter.

“If it was, we’d certainly be getting somewhere.” He grabs a book himself and flips through some pages that may help. “ Though maybe you can help her with mediation ? To connect with her soul or something…I can’t very well knock it out of her body. Wasn’t pleasant for me, I refuse to do that to a weak woman.” Though it was certainly a trip and a half.

“Besides, I feel like you could use some zen time yourself. You’re a little crabby.”

“Thank you.” and he means it with all sincerity. To have Wong help him with Cassandra means the world to him - but he isn’t going to lay it on that thick. Instead simple gratitude would suffice. He could also offer to replace his tea but he didn’t want to make Wong think he was either bribing him or turning over a new leaf completely. Some things are better left unchanged in the ever changing universes.

“She can do it. I believe she can.” Strange will follow Wong to the library gathering anything he, too, may need to help this woman survive. He hopes that he can prove Wong wrong, but that isn’t the goal.

The goal here is to save a life - something he has sworn to do.

“ If I recall correctly when I arrived here I was thrown out … literally, on my face.” He looks stern at Wong. Someone who is a friend, confidant and the like he can understand his worries, but he almost feels a little personal attack at the questions he brings to Strange about wanting to help Cassandra. He doesn’t show it but the words are getting into his head.

He does what he can to push them away, he can’t assume everyone who wants help as dark intent. He clearly doesn’t even if he has overstepped his bounds a time or two. It was for the greater good, wasn’t it? 

“ I wasn’t given a chance at first - so who are we to dismiss her ? Yes she’s…This is her last chance to find something. I can’t tell her ‘no’. She knows the risks. She’s willing. And if she goes mad….I’ll take care of it.” though he believes she won’t. Even if there is a shadow of a doubt he dismisses it.

Even no longer using his hands as a doctor, he still swore to help people. He has to try.

“So…will you help me or are determined to loom with your warning?”

“ You’ve helped me and countless others - “ Strange says as he looks directly at Wong, laser focused. “What is it about her that makes you want to question this ?”  He could ask the same thing of Strange, he realized. What is it about her that makes him want to help? A heavy breath lingers in his lungs as he stares down his friend with a sense of stubbornness and curiosity as to why he is standing so firm on the side of not wanting to help.

“ Oh you know as well as I do if this somehow messes up and blows up in my face you’ll be right there. Probably not to help, but to lay in the ‘I told you so’ in only a way you can.” Though he was going to believe that this would help her. It had too. it saved him, it saved others. If he can teach what he learned then she could have a fighting chance. Doesn’t she deserve that ? Why do others get a chance and others get turned away ? That is something he never quiet understood. Does he truly see Cassandra as a threat? What is it he knows that Strange doesn’t? He didn’t ask, he was too stubborn to do so at this point.

“ You really shouldn’t bring the holy mother into this.” He says, lifting a finger as he flips a page, but then uses his abilities to reach for him another book. “I know her well enough to know I want to help her. She has gone through this much - I’ve watched it…She can do this.” He tells Wong with the most certainty even if there is some confidence lacking behind them.

“Do you want to be the one to look into those eyes of hers and tell her this isn’t possible?” Strange lifts his head, eyes deadlocked on Wong. “Go ahead. I’m sure it’s like taking candy from a baby.” Then a pause. “…which I hope you’ve never actually done, It might make me think less of you.”

Shaking his head slowly to his next words, Strange lifts his finger to Wong. “I intend on keeping this promise , Wong. I will only ask you once to help me. If you decline I will do so on my own. I can’t not try.”

“I think you answered your own question - she’s resting.” he should simply tell Wong why he brought Cassandra here, but he knows the lecture that is bound to come of it. Not word for word, but he can imagine the cadence of the conversation. But if he was going to do this he knows he’d need help. Who else is going to help him but Wong?

“ I want to help her, she has a chance to live her life and do good with that life.” He tells Wong with his ‘matter-of-fact’ tone. “She’s been a patient at my hospital and I promised I’d help her. I want to keep that promise. Call me sentimental.” And with that he shrugs like it’s not a big deal. “I’m sure in this vast library there is something that can help her.” 

He had no doubt that Wong would have questions about what he’s doing. After all he was now the Sorcerer Supreme. He knows the rules and the concerns that he’ll have about him bringing Cassandra here, wanting to help her. But that doesn’t mean he will meet Wong’s question with a straight answer.

“Do you mean generally, figuratively…?” He asks Wong as his brow arches and he glances away from the book in his hand. “ If you mean actually - I’m reading.” He lifts the book for a moment only to then bring it back down to level and turn the page. “Though I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say that’s not what you’re asking me.” 

Perhaps asking Jaskier to come along was a bit of a mistake, but he did owe the Bard. Even if he didn’t outright say it. Though one favor at a time as warning him about Jove may have yielded nothing. Jaskier and his way with women, after all.  “ I felt it was something you needed to learn for yourself.” Geralt replies, though no smile tugs at his features.

But it wants too, oh boy does it want too. Just causing the corner of his mouth to twitch. “Besides, would you have listened if I did? “ 

@schoenestrauma​ for Matthew Casey from Kelly Severide

Don’t get Severide wrong for a second - more than anything he loves his family. He loves being a father, a husband, and all that comes with it. But sometimes a man needs time away from all the estrogen in the house ( that includes the judgmental cat ) . He’s enlisted Casey, because it’s been awhile since the two of them hung out together. At first he thought that Molly’s would be the place to go, but he opted to take Casey some place different. Still with drinks, but away from the work environment. He’s sure he’ll catch an earful from Herrmann about loyalty and integrity later. He sat, waiting for Casey to show up. Certainly they had some “gossiping” to do of their own. After all it’s not exactly a mystery that Cassandra’s best friend was staying in town for more than just moral support and as a free babysitter. 

“Hmm.” His lips pursed as he stared down at the tiny woman , her white hair to match his own but with more blue, more life in her eyes than he felt he held in a long time. And at her side was a sword at his neck which is nothing new. It’s always a sword, a stinger, a tentacle… None of this was ever really new to him, just the situation in which presents itself.  His golden eyes went from the princess to her guard, then back to the princess again. A clearing of his throat unnoticeable as he took in a breath. “Tales, legends, myths..” He repeated in a low tone. “ Perhaps you falling from the sky is one of the most normal myths to be told.” No smile on his stern lips as he moved to put his hand on his companion, his trusty horse Roach. 

“How, may I ask, does the princess expect me to do this?” Her request almost seemed more far fetched and out there than anything else. The moon? That’s something not within reach…how is he to help this woman? He has his own magic, but that magic is more so for fighting monsters. If she can tell him how to help that is when he’ll consider. 

For now he lets his gaze go back to her Guardian wondering if him taking a tone with a princess is going to get that blade to his throat again.

It’ll be more surprising if it doesn’t.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐄, 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐉𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 to draw her sword again. But she remained on her spot next to the princess, and turned her gaze back to her instead as she spoke to the Witcher.